This knife superstition, may be true.

Nimick

Nimick

Joined
Jul 26, 2005
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I was never one to believe in superstitions. I work in the theater, and I'm damn well going to say MacBeth and wish the performers good luck. But the superstition about the gift of a knife symbolizing the end of a relationship may have something to it. I'll lay out my story as a semi-cautionary tale.

I have given 5 knives as gifts, usually I give gifts of the knives that I want but cant bear to buy for myself:

gift no. 1, a Boker Orion, the titanium and carbon fiber concotion that served to be good at cutting nothing. went to my best friend from high school. we got together a few times after that. but those get togethers manily consisted of each of us playing the video games on each other's computer that we couldn't play on our own(he had a PC/systemshock2, I had a Mac/Escape Velocity) haven't talked to him in 4 years.

gift no. 2, a Magnum Speedlock, went to another good high school friend. I saw him at least once a week before I gave him the gift. Haven't seen him since.

gift no. 3, a Gerber AR 3.5, went to my ex-girlfriend, cuz I thought she should have a knife. we broke up 3 weeks later, and we didn't see each other much in those 3 weeks.

gift no. 4, a Buck Adrenaline-Ti (was going to be a EDI Genisis), went to a cast member who gave me a ride to maine with her family. her destination was close to mine. I was crazy about the girl, but I knew that I didn't have a snowballs chance in hell, and even if I did it wouldn't be any fun. the only thing we had in common was that we were both, once upon a time, MC Hammer fans. I was getting kind of pissed cuz I had better things to think about than this chick. anyway, shortly therafter, her pristine visage stopped invading my thoughts.

gift no. 5, the EDI Genisis, went to a very close female friend. after I gave her the knife, things got kind of chilly between us, then the knife broke, and we are close again.

I was about to order a custom 110 for a collegue of mine. but when I stopped to think about how all the ohers worked out I'm hesitant.

Edited to add: still going to get the custom 110 just not getting it engraved
 
The old superstition I heard was to give a coin or some other small token when giving knives as gifts. Otherwise the blade will severe the relationship. Or something like you buy it for a penny to avoid harm. Doesn't hold water IMO.
 
GarageBoy said:
Call them up, contact them somehow! I've had quite a few exchanges of knives, no problems
Click to expand...

These were pure gifts and were not exchanges in any way, or for any amount. I had not heard of the custom of giving a coin in exchange for a knife gift until I found bladeforums, and it was the adrenaline that brought me here.

It's not like I don't talk to them anymore, the chick is still in the cast of every show I've done. I still see my old friends at parties. but in each case the rellationship we had ended. sometimes a new one was created. but it was different.
 
:D you knew, from subconscious tells, that these relationships were going the way of the dodo bird, and gave them the knives to symbolically represent the severing that was about to take place....not ;)
 
There is sometimes some substance to these tales. A co-worker had been admiring my Severtech for many weeks and like many of the guys in the shop, he wanted one badly. I told him there were no new ones to be had but maybe in a few months a new batch would be produced. He kept bugging me for weeks so I stuck it in his eye. He hasn't looked at me the same since......:cool:
 
Back home in Northeast Texas we have exactly the opposite superstition. Tradition there says you can't buy your first knife. It has to be a gift. But this gives me an idea for a post.
 
Wow! What a great way to get rid of somebody (without needing a shovel!!) Lol.
I'll try it on my "mother-in-law" this weekend! Yeehaw!!
Thanx for the advice.
 
I always get the coin. Even with family. I just say, "Got any change?" And when they offer, I take the smallest coin and hand 'em the knife.

If they've heard of the superstition/tradition, they smile. (Since I wouldn't give away a knife I wouldn't carry, they're smiling by the time they see the knife, anyway.)

If they haven't heard of the superstition/tradition, I tell 'em about it. That, too, usually gets a smile.

By the way, I've heard two versions:
1. A knife given as a gift will literally cut the receiver.
2. A knife given as a gift will cut the friendship.

I don't think I'm particularly suspicious. Friday the 13ths don't bother me, nor do black cats. But I am a half-arsed Taoist, so I figure since the Tao is infinite, no harm giving it a bow.

Naturally it doesn't matter ... form/nothingness ...nothingness/form

I'm stopping typing now.
 
If I am not wrong... its some chinese superstition and its not just for knives.

Since my grandmother's time, we were told not to gift stuff that are sharp or pointy, ie knives, scissors, pins. Other stuff included are clocks (death) and footwear (walk-out on). all must be compensated by money or trade.
 
I've given many knives as gifts, have received some. Never given or received a coin. Still friends and family.:yawn:
 
I had always heard it attributed as a Scottish/Gaelic superstition. Later as I got older I heard it also attributed to Asian cultures.

When I give knives as gifts I also ask for a coin in return. I do it more as a Tradition than as a Superstition. I have given my closest friend several knives over the years and maybe I missed a coin at some point. I've stood back to back with the man in barfights during our youth and my family even treats him as my brother with my boys calling him Uncle. Don't see our friendship ending. Still better safe than sorry :D
 
My father gave me my first knife (which was his first knife as a boy), and our relationship is fine.

Granted, there was a period when we both fell into the generation gap, but we've since climbed out of it and now we're very close.

I would say that all the girlfriends to whom I've given knives have wound up as ex-girlfriends, but then again so have all the rest. They can try to tie me down..... but I cut my way out!!! :D

Peace.
Alex.
 
All of your friends were just using you for your knife giving benevolence.

I've given two out of my last three girlfriends knives, believe it or not.
 
I've bought not 1 but 2 knives as gifts for my brother...

...and the aswhole STILL doesn't get the message! ;) :D

PS - I gave knives as groomsmens gifts too...those leeches still come by and drink my beer! :D
 
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